AC LED technology and light engines connecting directly to high voltage AC power infrastructures which provide a both lower maintenance, and ease of dimmablity. Below are two main topics of benefit:
Size
Removing the DC driver from an LED light engine provides several very significant advantages – apart from the obvious one of eliminating one of the major cost elements in any lamp. An AC LED light engine, having substantially fewer components over DC, is smaller, more reliable and dims naturally with the ubiquitous phase cut dimmer.
Reliability
Driver electronics presents a reliability issue – particularly in the constrained space of small form factor lamps. To compress the electronics into a small space requires compromise on the size and capability of components as well as the sophistication of the design. That coupled with the significant and sustained temperature at which the driver has to operate (>80 deg C) means that reliability and performance can be severely impacted. In larger lamps and fixtures, improved reliability is achieved with the cost of increased electronics and complexity.
In Summary
AC LEDs can deliver savings and benefits in the design of lamps and fixtures for both low and line voltage applications. Simplified manufacturing and assembly will contribute to that momentum. The reliability, dimming and space saving benefits of AC LED technology add significant value to the use of AC LEDs in the emerging volume lighting markets, ensuring AC LEDs will have an increasingly important role to play in the growth of energy efficient affordable lamps and fixtures.